Legislators critical of UA deficit seek answers LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Legislators on Tuesday criticized how the University of Arkansas managed the budget of its fundraising division and said they're still not clear how it built a $4.2 million deficit. Two former executives at the Fayetteville campus testified that Chancellor David Gearhart created an oppressive atmosphere after the shortfall became known and tried to conceal budget information from the media and public, something Gearhart deni...

December revenue beats forecast LITTLE ROCK (AP) — An early deposit from securities fees collected by the state helped keep Arkansas' December revenue above what it was forecast to be and above the previous December's, state finance officials said Friday. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said that the state's net available revenue last month totaled $472.1 million, which was $15.6 million above December 2012's and $2.8 million above forecast. The state's...

AG approves minimum wage ballot proposal LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Wording for the ballot title of a proposal to raise Arkansas' minimum wage to $8.50 per hour by 2017 won approval from the state attorney general on Friday. The approval opens the way for the group Give Arkansas a Raise Now to start gathering the 62,507 verified signatures of registered voters it will need to place the item on the Nov. 4 ballot. "We're real excited about that," group chairman Stephen Copley said. The proposa...

State notifying insurance applicants of acceptance LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Health officials in Arkansas have begun notifying health insurance applicants of their acceptance into the private option coverage plan. The Department of Human Services says it began mailings on Friday to let people know they were approved for coverage. DHS says mailings to 9,295 eligible applicants were going out Friday and Monday. The acceptances were from people who applied through the federal government or its HealthCar...

Ethics leader: Darr didn't attend finance class LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The head of the Arkansas Ethics Commission says he does not believe the lieutenant governor ever attended a training session on the state's campaign finance laws. The panel this week reprimanded Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, who has agreed to pay $11,000 in fines over allegations that he misspent money from his campaign account. He has resisted calls to resign. Graham Sloan, the executive director of the ethics panel, said in a story ...

Nativity scene removed from Baxter County courthouse MOUNTAIN HOME (AP) — A Christmas nativity scene on display at the Baxter County Courthouse has been removed, but county officials said it was likely because of the end of the holiday season and not the looming threat of a lawsuit. Earlier this week, a Washington, D.C.-based legal center told Baxter County officials to remove a nativity scene from the courthouse lawn or face a lawsuit. The Appignani Humanist Legal Center said the nativity scene...

Lawmakers not pushing yet for Darr removal LITTLE ROC (AP) — Arkansas legislative leaders said Thursday it's too early to consider impeachment proceedings against Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, despite growing calls for the Republican official to step down after being cited for ethics violations over his campaign and office spending. Senate President Michael Lamoureux and House Speaker Davy Carter said they're not pushing yet to remove Darr from office, and they stopped short of joining those dem...

Woman facing manslaughter charge after dog attack HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE (AP) — A woman whose dog attacked and killed a 75-year-old woman in Arkansas has been charged with manslaughter. The Little Rock TV station KARK reports (http://bit.ly/1d2GLhQ) that a warrant has been issued for Brande Michelle Coy. Coy is wanted for manslaughter, unlawful dog attack and harboring a vicious animal. Another woman, Emily Ann Coy, is wanted for harboring a vicious animal. The Saline County Prosecuting Attorney...

Beebe focuses on budget as final year approaches LITTLE ROCK (AP) — With a limited legislative session focused primarily on the state's budget, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe is approaching his final year in office with an agenda that includes boosting funding for the state's prison system and protecting the Medicaid expansion he signed into law. What it doesn't include is a focus on his political future. After a career that includes 20 years in the state Senate, four years as attorney general and...

Russellville asks judge to toss Williamson suitRussellville’s city attorney has filed a response to a lawsuit by a former mayor and requested the matter be dismissed. In a lawsuit filed Dec. 2, Tyrone Williamson named Circuit Clerk Fern Tucker, Tax Collector Rita Chandler, County Assessor Dana Baker, Pope County, the city of Russellville and former Commissioner of State Lands Mark Wilcox. The suit rises from problems with a property in Russellville at 410 S. Jonesboro Ave. that Williamson ...

Familiar faces, issues mark politics in 2013 LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Welcome to the new politics of Arkansas. It looks just like the old politics of Arkansas. Despite all the talk of the changed electoral landscape in Arkansas after recent GOP gains, there were plenty of familiar faces, themes and issues that highlighted the state's politics in 2013. • A two-term senator faced a frenzied and expensive re-election fight, fending off attacks from Republicans who tried to tie the lawmaker to Pre...

2013 marks a busy year for courts in Arkansas LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Challenges to portions of Arkansas' education system and the state's execution methods made their way through courts in 2013. A long-running desegregation lawsuit approached an apparent end after decades of state spending totaling more than $1 billion. Challenges to the state's gay-marriage ban bubbled up in state and federal court. And a group of death row inmates launched a fight over Arkansas' new lethal injection law. A ...

Pottsville to buy property near City HallPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council approved a resolution at its regular meeting Monday that will give Mayor Jerry Williams permission to enter into a contract and purchase the property adjacent to City Hall. The city agreed to purchase the property for $75,000. It will pay $35,000 immediately and the remaining balance when the current owner vacates the property, Williams said. The council also approved the 2014 budget and budget amendmen...

Johnson County deputy convicted of perjuryCLARKSVILLE (AP) — A Johnson County sheriff's deputy has been convicted of perjury for lying to a judge. Sgt. Glenda Morrison, 44, was found guilty Friday and sentenced to one year of probation, according to the Times Record. The felony conviction also means Morrison can no longer work in law enforcement. Morrison was convicted of lying to Circuit Judge William Pearson about comments she made to a jury as it prepared to deliberate the sentence...

Group drops effort to recall Texarkana directors TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — A group called Miller County Patriots is dropping efforts to recall three members of the Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors. Group vice president Dwayne Hall says the effort to recall Mike Jones, Londell Williams and Laney Harris is being dropped because the estimated $15,000 to $20,000 for an election would harm the city's budget. The Texarkana Gazette reported the city budget has $875,000 more in expenses than revenue...

Former judge convicted on drug chargesLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A former district judge in Pocahontas who once served a federal prison sentence for sending a live snake to a man, has been convicted on three federal drug charges. A federal jury in Little Rock found Bob Castleman, 63, guilty of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to maintain a drug premises and conspiracy to possess equipment and ingredients to make meth. Castleman did not testify and his attorney present...

Craig seeks Yell Co. treasurer officeDebra Craig announced that she will be a candidate in the Democratic primary for the office of Yell County Treasurer. A lifelong resident of Yell County, Debra is currently the chief deputy clerk and had been deputy clerk in the Circuit and County Clerk’s Office for over 19 years. She holds the position of payroll clerk in the Clerk’s office. She is also a secretary in the County Judge’s Office. Her home is in Danville with her husband Cameron...

Russellville aldermen look at contract engineer workRussellville aldermen are looking into the Public Works Department's contract labor expenses. During Thursday's City Council meeting, local aldermen approved the city's General Fund, Special Funds, and Capital Funds budgets. The Street Fund budget was approved with the exception of a contract labor line item and an engineering services line item. Those two items will be reviewed at a later date. Initially, Alderman Garland Steuber requested om...

Man wants city to pay for new septic systemA Russellville man claims the city owes him a new septic system. In 2012, during construction of a drainage alleviation project on Randal Circle, contractors cut through the lateral lines of Brian Young's septic system. "The system worked perfectly before it was damaged by the city," Young told aldermen at Thursday's City Council meeting. After the damaged occurred, Young said the contractor told him he would inform the city, and the city woul...

County approves raises for employeesPope County employees will receive a 3 percent cost of living raise for 2014. The county’s 2014 operating budget, which included the raise, was approved Tuesday with little discussion. Justice of the Peace Bill Sparks voiced, as he has before during budget hearings, that he could support a one-time stipend, but not an ongoing salary adjustment. “I still have issue with taking the 3 percent increase out of the surplus fund as a permanent increa...